Chapter 6

I pressed the phone to my ear, staring out the window as the dense forest stretched beneath a cloud-heavy sky. My father's voice crackled through the line, calm but tinged with an edge of concern I hadn't heard in years.

"This isn't an easy decision, Malinda. You'll be bound to someone you haven't chosen," he said, his words heavy with unspoken things. "But the Alpha selected for you is strong, one of the best. With him, you'll find the stability you need. That's what you need right now."

Stability. The thought of marrying a stranger used to terrify me, but now? It felt like the only choice, the only path left to me. My survival depended on stability, on finding someone who could manage the dangerous power in my blood. Someone who could protect me from myself.

"I understand, Dad," I replied, my voice steady, but underneath, a deep ache gnawed at me. "I don't have a choice... not with my blood."

I glanced at my bandaged leg, the dull throb of pain a reminder of how unpredictable I could be. My father sighed on the other end, his breath a soft release of understanding only a fellow Lycan could recognize. "I'm sorry, Malinda. I know this isn't easy."

I had to know more about this Alpha. Who was he? Would he see me as a duty, or would he see me as a person who needed help?

"Who is he?" I began to ask, but just then, I sensed movement outside my room, Kayden and Francis. A tightness gripped my chest. Memories of when they had been my closest friends hit me, memories that now felt like ancient ghosts.

"Malinda?" Kayden's voice called softly from the other side of the door, followed by a soft knock.

I took a deep breath, pushing down the rising unease in my wolf. "I'll talk to you soon, Dad," I whispered, ending the call just as the door swung open.

Kayden and Francis stood in the doorway, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. For a fleeting second, it felt like old times, like they might actually help me with something. But those days were long gone, replaced by betrayal and broken trust.

Kayden's eyes flicked from my face to the phone in my hand. "Who were you talking to?"

Francis, arms crossed over his chest, echoed the question with a sharp look. "Yeah, and what was that about?"

I slipped the phone into my pocket and lifted my chin, meeting their stares with a cool, detached expression. "None of your business."

The bite in my tone caught them off guard. Kayden opened his mouth, clearly surprised, but he didn't know what to say. Francis stepped forward, his hand twitching like he wanted to grab my attention, to demand an explanation.

"What?" he said, confusion and hurt clouding his voice. "Why are you shutting us out?"

Anger flared through me, my wolf stirring within. How could they ask me that after everything? After they'd immediately sided with Sharon, throwing me aside like I was nothing. I hardened my gaze, refusing to show any emotion.

"There's nothing to tell," I said flatly, my voice icy.

Kayden's eyes darkened, and he took a cautious step toward me, frustration and something else I couldn't quite name flashing across his face. "Malinda, what's going on? You've changed. You've… distanced yourself."

A bitter laugh escaped me before I could stop it. "Oh, now you care?" My sarcasm was thick. "Don't act like you're concerned now, Kayden."

Francis's face tightened, his jaw setting as he exchanged a brief look with Kayden, some unspoken conversation passing between them. The sight made my anger burn hotter. They were always so in sync, always loyal to each other, and now they had twisted that loyalty to protect Sharon. I had become an outsider.

Francis spoke, his words sharp with impatience. "You're acting… cold, Malinda."

I raised an eyebrow, a dark smile tugging at my lips. "Cold? Don't confuse silence with coldness, Francis. I just don't have anything left to say to you."

My words hung in the air, a challenge. I saw Francis blink, disbelief flashing across his face. Kayden's eyes flickered with something like regret, but I pushed it down, unwilling to let myself be dragged back into their world of empty promises.

Kayden's voice softened, his hand reaching out toward me, hovering just inches from my arm. "Malinda… please, don't do this. Don't push us away."

I took a step back, pulling up my walls even higher. "I'm not the one pushing anyone away, Kayden. You made your choice when you decided Sharon was more important."

The mention of Sharon hardened Francis's expression. He stepped forward, his stance tense, and locked eyes with me. "This isn't about Sharon. You're acting like we abandoned you when all we did was show her a little kindness. She's part of this pack, too."

Kindness. The word hit me like a slap, raw and painful. They couldn't possibly understand what they had done, how easily they'd forgotten their promises to me. How easily they'd cast me aside.

"Kindness?" I whispered, my voice low but edged with venom. "Don't talk to me about kindness, Francis. You don't know what it means to keep promises, not when you abandon them the moment someone new comes along."

And just like that, the space between us grew colder, wider. The words I'd been holding back, the pain I'd buried, spilled out, and I knew there was no going back.